Senate OKs early voting bill on 3rd reading

The Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill allowing early voting in certain areas and of certain sectors, including the media, detainees and uniformed jail personnel. Senator Richard Gordon, author and sponsor of Senate Bill 3570, said they received assurance from the members of the House of Representatives that the Senate version would be adopted in the bicameral conference committee. "I understand the House will adopt our version of the bill para OK na," he told GMANews.TV. As of posting time, there is no schedule yet when the two chambers would meet to reconcile their respective versions of the bill. The Congress needs to hasten the approval and ratification of the bill in order for it to be passed before the adjournment on February 6. Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 6928 allowing members of the media to vote within seven working days before the elections this year. Under the Senate bill , residents of certain municipalities, cities, and provinces – to be determined beforehand by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) – will also be allowed to vote in advance. Areas eligible for early elections include locations with histories of election violence or terrorism and similar incidents that would endanger the holding of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections. The total number of registered votes in these same locations should not exceed 10 percent of the total number of registered voters nationwide. The Comelec, after due notice and hearing, may announce the areas covered by early elections not later than March 10, 2010 for the May 10, 2010 elections and 150 days before the regular election day in succeeding polls. Early voting will be conducted not earlier than one month but not later than 10 days before the date of the elections. Results of early voting will not be disclosed and will be canvassed together with the result of the regular voting, said Gordon. He added that only inmates who have no final conviction can vote. - Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV